Microbiota and Serum Metabolic Profile Changes in Korean Native Hanwoo Steer in Response to Diet Feeding Systems

Abstract

The diversity of bacteria and their function in cattle gastrointestinal tracts can influence animal welfare. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to investigate microbial diversity in the feces of Hanwoo steers reared under natural grazing (GS) and housing (HS) systems. Additionally, serum metabolic parameters, such as liver and kidney markers and mineral and lipid content changes, as well as their correlation with pyrotags, were studied. A total of 6468 ± 87.86 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified in both steer groups, of which 3538 ± 38.17 OTUs were from grazing steer and 2930 ± 94.06 OTUs were from GS. Chao1 index analysis revealed a higher bacterial richness in GS. The dominant bacterial taxa were Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. GS showed lower Bacteroidetes and higher Firmicutes abundance than HS. The serum of HS showed consistent increases in gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γGTP), glucose (GLU), total cholesterol (T-CHO), and triglyceride (TG) levels. The impact of GS on animal health and serum metabolic markers was strongly correlated with microbiota. As shown in this study, grazing has a significant impact on the fecal microbiota at the phylum and family levels, as well as the serum biochemical metabolites of Hanwoo steers.

From the perspective of rumen microbiome and host metabolome, revealing the effects of feeding strategies on Jersey Cows on the Tibetan Plateau

“…Rumen is an important digestive organ for ruminants, and has a wide range of rumen microbes that are extremely sensitive to feeding strategies. The feeding strategy affects the ruminal fermentation of yaks and alters the core bacterial diversity ( Dai et al, 2022 ) and also has a considerable impact on the fecal microbiota at the phylum and family levels of Hanwoo steers ( Jung et al, 2022 ). There were significant differences in bacterial composition and the concentration of ruminal VFAs (especially propionate and butyrate) in Tibetan Gangba sheep fed by different feeding strategies ( Jize et al, 2022 ).…”

“…These studies have found that in both house-feeding and grazing strategies, house-feeding improved rumen development and increased the production of yak rumen acetate, propionate, and microbial protein, but the rumen bacterial and microbial richness was lower in the house-feeding yaks than in grazing yaks ( Xu et al, 2021 ; Huang et al, 2021 ; Fang et al, 2015 ). In addition, it has been shown that feeding strategy has an effect on serum metabolism, antioxidant capacity, and immunity of cattle ( Zhang, Wang & Guo, 2021 ; Jung et al, 2022 ). Polyphenolic compounds in grazing forage has been found to enhance the immunity capacity and inflammatory response in yaks, as well as improve their antioxidant capacity ( Cui et al, 2016a ).…”